Reviews

Magister Ludi: The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse

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alyssafraley's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

physicsphilip's review against another edition

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2.0

This book was too long. I enjoyed the first 100 pages, but the almost constant barrage of long-winded dialogues about stuff that doesn't really matter became tiring. Some parts of the book, particularly in the last 200 pages, really felt agonising because of the frustratingly slow pace and extreme self-indulgence on Hesse's part. The only reason I finished this book was because I hate leaving books only partially read.

It feels like there's something slightly paradoxical about this book. Unless Hesse was a masochist, he really enjoyed writing about Joseph Knecht, Castalia and the Glass Bead Game. He didn't just write the fictional biography of Knecht. He wrote a 35-page outline of the history of Castalia and the Glass Bead Game. There is also a hundred-page appendix of the lead character's posthumous writings. I read the introduction. I didn't read the appendix because I just didn't care enough.

Yet despite putting all this effort into writing the book, there's no feeling of passion or enthrallment in this book. The dialogue and narration is long-winded and feels cold. We are told that Knecht is a very likeable, charismatic character, but that never comes across in his dialogue, unless Hesse reminds us just how great a guy he is.

Perhaps worst of all, there is no suspense, no tension, and no uncertainty in the story. Everything happens as you'd expect it to, and when there's any doubt, Hesse tells you with plenty of time.

I would only be tempted to read another book by Hesse if it was shorter, punchier and less self-indulgent.

yarnmaus's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ich muss hierfür Worte finden— sie suchen , “erwachen”.

magda_sabatowska's review against another edition

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3.0

I think my expectations of what this book is about didn't meet the reality and I've struggled throughout reading. The last three stories at the end were refreshing but the rest felt quite gruesome and overly descriptive. Overall, not a great read!

angie_dutton's review against another edition

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3.0

Find it hard to know how to even rate this, as I honestly found myself barely enjoying it at all, but on a sheer level of competency of what Hesse is getting across the whole thing is damn near perfect. I would say that maybe it deserves a reread, if it wasn't for the fact that it was so annoying to read in the first place. He sets out this culture where the academics are the most praised and important in the whole of society, and it's entirely about their hubris, their pretension, and their constant snobbishness. It's like a bunch of university students who don't take drugs and never leave university, and get endlessly supported by older students who've climbed up the hierarchy. None of their "knowledge" really serves anyone but themselves, and they just exist in this horrendously lofty and intellectually macho and sexist citadel culture. And one of the great things is that Hesse never fully explains what the Glass Bead Game actually is, how it's played, but it's basically just a bunch of old men rolling marbles in a highly philosophical way.

I might be making it sound great, and it really is great, but on a personal level I would only score it 2 stars... but on a greatness level it's a 5 stars, but I'm going to average it out to a 3. But really don't let my review sway you on this, and I'll be totally honest after the main story I did slightly skim over the appendixes at the end. I just had enough of these Citadel dwellers by the end of it.

Oh, worth mentioning that it has a great IMHO ending to the main story. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.